Ray Malcolm, photographer

100Strangers

Amy was taking a break from the Black Pride Festival that was still going strong in the park around the corner, She said she felt the need to get away because some performers were making a point of saying the event was all about being black and then, also, secondly, LGBTQ. Wasn't the world divisive enough, she said, without splitting off into another subgroup and putting up barricades? She might have a point there. Amy didn't like the pictures I took of her but said I could go ahead and use them. Amy, I do hope your day got better...

Leon stranger #96

I'm working on another street portrait project that Leon was happy to help with. Unfortunately it didn't work out and so i segued into this stranger picture, shot in the entrance to an alley, just off Carnaby street, London.

Tony Stranger #97

Tony had just arrived in London from Berlin when I met him outside Tate Modern. Tony is a musician, a street musician, a busker. He said he hadn't done too well in Germany so he thought he'd try London. He had been travelling the world for a lot of years, playing his music. Sounded a tough life but he was quite upbeat, waiting for a busking pitch to come free

We took quite a few pictures, there was some harsh sunlight which Tony squinted into and I went for this one with the jarring note of the glare across Tony's head, signalling his unease at being in a new country

Adam Stranger #95

Erica

Flakes Stranger #89

Flakes told me her real name but said her friends called her Flakes; which I took to mean that we were instantly friends, which was a good thing as she had a stare that made me glad to be her new friend.

Stefanie

Colette Stranger #90

Colette is from LA and had been in London for 2 days, starting a TV and film course. Face to watch out for in the future. We laughed at that but you never know...

Zoe Stranger #92

I interrupted Zoe's lunch break and asked her if I could take her picture. She was cool about it even though she had to stop reading, eating and listening to music on headphones. 5 minutes, 10 shots later and she was back to multi-tasking.

Anton stranger #91

Burberry, Burberry, fake Louis Vuitton, Zara, Zara, said Anton. But don't mention the fake or the Zara - too cheap. As he didn't want to see the pictures I thought I would mention them anyway

James Stranger #94

James had just had an interview, wasn't too sure how it had gone but maybe me asking to take his picture was a good omen.

Good luck, James, I hope you get it.

Noam Stranger #93

Noam was visiting London from Israel to see the last race that Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt would ever run. Noam was extremely excited and was in the West End taking in a show and getting some food before heading off to the Olympic park. He posed with his signature harmonica for a pre-triumph picture. Usain Bolt pulled up with an injury and didn't finish the race. I think that in this picture Noam could have been playing a prescient and sad lament on the end of Usain Bolt's career.

Shireen stranger #87

Shireen said she was in a hurry and didn't have any makeup on but said yes, go ahead and take a portrait. Her day job is in journalism focused on digital health; her night/dream job is a lifestyle/fitness coach. Is a dream job just the one that you don't have to do?

Stefanie Stranger #88

Stefanie gave me her email address, asked me to send her pictures from the shoot, and I lost it. I remembered her name though: Stefanie Wong; even how she spelled 'Stefanie'. Turns out the name is all over the internet. None of them her. Sorry, Stefanie.

Anita Stranger #86

Anita was smoking a cigarette and her boyfriend Lee was drinking a beer when I asked them to come into the alley so I could take their picture. They said, sure, they would love to. That's how it goes sometimes in Soho.

Paul Stranger #85

I'm not really so old, said Paul. I drink and smoke too much which makes me look old

Aaron Stranger #82

Aaron is a rapper, originally from Nottingham. He was waiting for his phone to be repaired, standing outside a Covent Garden phone shop, smoking a cigarette. I hadn't taken a stranger portrait for a while so Aaron, being friendly, completely up for the project, was the perfect subject to go with.

Moved to a doorway for the background, had Aaron hold the reflector, took 6 shots.

Jay Read stranger #18

This is Jay Read, clothing designer and creator of www.jiltedroyalty.com/ I met Jay in Brighton where he was shopping with a friend. Jay's look is incredibly striking - facial tattoos, silver teeth caps and a toned physique give him an urban warrior appearance that would be eye-catching in any city. His personality belied the look; Jay was generous with his time, interested and warm. We moved outside the shop into a small lane and took a few shots. I was 'off stranger duty' and only had a wide angle prime on my digital camera. Still, got some pictures that I liked, not least because as arresting as they are, the tattoos are not the focal point, Jay's face-the-world stance is.
Hope you like the pictures, Jay, I will send you the others separately. All the best for your travels, adventures and Jilted Royalty.

Electra stranger #25

Electra is actually her middle name, her first name is Elvira. Elvira Electra from Sweden. She said she started using Electra a year ago because it sounded cool. And because when she becomes famous she will already have a stardust name. She is a social sciences student holidaying for a week in London and was lucky enough to get the best weather so far this year.

Electra encouraged me to go to Sweden if I could but to stay in Stockholm, everywhere else is too rural and not suited for us city slickers.

Electra liked the idea of the 100 strangers project and was keen to see which picture I would use and how it would look. I told her she could find the picture at 100strangers.com but when I checked I saw that the website is no more. When did that happen? Sorry, Electra, unless there's some internet magic or crazy luck you will probably never see this picture. Thanks, though, for being a fun stranger and a wonderful model.

I'll tag the photo, who knows??

Saira Stranger #30

I met Saira and Harj near Spitalfields. They were meeting each other for just the third time. Their connection with each other was so strong that I was only partly joking when I asked if they were in love. They looked at each other and both said, what do you think?

I took a few pictures of Saira and Harj that I quite liked but in almost all of them Saira is behind Harj, which doesn't seem right, especially given that she was as friendly and engaging as he was. I asked them to pose with their faces level but somehow we slipped back to him in front/her behind shots. So I decided on this one with all the focus on Saira and I've picked Saira as the stranger (no two for the price of one strangers for me!) Saira is a tattoo artist from South Wales, Harj is from Leicester. They were both very happy to pose and we took some more shots in a side street. Lovely conversation, beautiful couple, I really do wish them the best

Tanya Stranger #26

Sometimes it's just more straightforward than others: can I take your picture? Sure. Can we try with a smile? And now without? no problem. Without shoulder bag? Of course.

Tanya works in sound recording and was on her way to a job when we met on Folgate Street. We agreed that the early evening light glowing and bouncing off the steel and glass bank buildings and around Spitalfields was wonderful. Tanya has a lovely smile but 'proper' portraits don't have the subject wearing their best camera smile, or so goes the common wisdom. So here's Tanya doing po-faced.

Luke Stranger #33

For a contribution (amount your choice) Luke will write you a story. He types out stories for strangers on his old typewriter. Even if you don't want a story Luke has time to talk to everybody. I didn't get a story written but in exchange for this stranger portrait I gave Luke a polaroid version. Luke was excited about an up-coming trip to Andalucia to take in the sights and write some more stranger stories. I wonder if he'll write in Spanish.

Shane Stranger #36

Shane and his buddy Dion were strolling on the south bank like a pair of big cats, turned out they are dancers and were returning from rehearsals. Shane is Dutch Surinamese from Amsterdam and has modelled before alongside being a commercial and street dancer. Both Shane and Dion love performing in front of an audience but don't like training and rehearsal so much. I got some impromptu moves from Shane, without music but pretty cool. I should have made a video

Nick Stranger #39

Royal Festival Hall and the South Bank are 'target rich' stranger environments for me and, in a good spot for finding strangers, Nick stood out from the crowd. He was working on his laptop and looked particularly dapper in a very English way. I could imagine tourists thinking he was a quaint and quirky attraction. Nick was getting ready to go and meet a friend when I asked if I could take his picture. Absolutely no problem, said Nick, I'm a photographer myself - where do you want me? Two photographer strangers in a row!
Nick shoots for a menswear brand and, wouldn't you know it, I was wearing a jumper by the same brand (cold evenings in London, this June) some things are just meant to be.
We talked briefly about clothes and photography (he had to leave and meet his friend) but it was a really enjoyable mini-shoot. Nice one, Nick, I'll be in touch to let you know where you can get the other images.
I've been having a hard time recently, picking my stranger portrait. Normally, I take between 10 and 20 shots in 5-10 minutes and then spend a couple of hours trying to pick the right one. I'm not sure if I got it right this time, but I like the sunglasses on and the blue tile in the background
this is #39 in my 100 strangers project. Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at the 100 Strangers Flickr Group page

Sana Stranger #40

While I am looking for some variety of stranger in the pictures I take for the project, I also don't have a stranger bucket list; however, one portrait I've always wanted to capture is of a Muslim woman in headscarf. Pretty amazing, then, that the first woman I asked was happy to participate. And that the woman was the pretty amazing Sana.
Sana was born in Virginia USA and came to England when she was a child; she still has a very slight southern US twang that is overlaid with an English southern counties accent and some of her speech patterns derive, I would guess, from her sub-continent roots. The result is unusual but it suits Sana somehow - she is not by any means a typical London Muslim woman.
Sana works in Cambridge at the museum of Zoology, which houses much of Charles Darwin's collection - Sana has held the famous birds from one of Darwin's Galapagos expeditions.
Sana read Egyptology at Swansea University and it was while she was at university that she studied Islam in greater depth and became more devout; it was at this time that she started wearing the scarf. Her family are very liberal and were initially somewhat worried about her increased religious observance and faith but once they understood the positive change Islam had made on Sana and that she was not being influenced by some 'crazy elements' they were accepting and supportive.
Sana said she doesn't find it difficult to combine her faith with being an educated working woman in a secular society; having put her religion first she doesn't personally see any conflicts. She enjoyed (I hope) having her picture taken and remarked that maybe many other Muslim women wouldn't have agreed but she was keen to show that Muslim women may not be all that you imagine or read them to be.
It was a fasinating stranger portrait shoot, I usually wish I had taken more pictures with different angles or lighting or pose but here I was wishing I had asked more questions and conversed for longer! thanks Sana and thanks Halouma for your help with the reflector.
this is #40 in my 100 strangers project. Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at the 100 Strangers Flickr Group page

Lucy Stranger #43

Friday evening and Southbank was busy with tourists, children on summer holidays and office escapees. Lucy, Luke (a previous stranger), and Marin (I'm so sure I spelled that wrong; probably heard it wrong, too) had found a space to sit down at and have a pint after seeing the Delaunay exhibition.
Lucy was happy to be photographed for the project and suggested that we use the green shrubbery as a backdrop; copper hair and greenery - you just know that's going to work. She warned me about her lopsided smile; we can call it enigmatic, Lucy, can't we?
this is #43 in my 100 strangers project. Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at the 100 Strangers Flickr Group page

Abraham (Avi) Stranger #44

I had to barter for this shot of Avi; in exchange for this picture (and the 3 others I took) I had to speak some Yiddish into Avi's videocam. The words translated as "the messiah is coming" and "long live the king" though, of course, with my zero-knowledge of Yiddish I could have been saying anything. Who's the king? I asked Avi and he gave me the card of an apparently very important rabbi.
Avi and his friend were visiting London from Brooklyn NY and staying in Stamford Hill - these locations alone gave them a stamp of authenticity (if any were needed) in contrast to the acting Jew I photographed as stranger #41.
On a stranger mission of their own, they hoped to encounter other Jews, whom they would share a blessing with; Avi held a cloth bag containing phylacteries for this purpose.
A fascinating encounter - thanks Avi for giving me a quick glimpse into your world.
this is #44 in my 100 strangers project. Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at the 100 Strangers Flickr Group page

Juan stranger #60

It's all about the cheekbones, baby. Juan is a model, can't you tell? I met him in Spitalfields where he was lining up some work for a fashion week show. In London by way of Barcelona and France, Juan was happy to show the looks and poses that will get him on the catwalk later this month, hope it goes well for you, Juan, it was a pleasure to talk with you.

Lex Stranger #64

Brick Lane was teeming with visitors to the London Coffee festival and sitting down on some steps outside one of the venues, having a lunch of pickles, was Lex. He was at the festival working one of his skills: master mixologist. Lex didn't hesitate to agree to being photographed and I took a few shots right where he was as the shaded light seemed just about right. Another of Lex's skills is modelling, and I'd say he has the looks for it; a touch of young Bowie? Or is that just me?

The bright red coat was certainly eye-catching but I toned it down for this portrait as it's a stranger photography project, not a stranger's coat project. I connected with Lex on Instagram so he should get a faster turnaround than most strangers do: @rollingcalf

Louise stranger #65

I am fascinated by the reactions I get from people when I ask them if they will be photographed for the project, especially couples. One looks at the other, seeks approval, directly or indirectly reassures the other that they should take part (they are picture worthy) contributes (or not) to the whole process.

Louise and Jessie were great, both had compelling looks, Louise especially striking and Jessie perhaps more conventionally attractive. They were good strangers: going for the project, Louise with some great poses and Jessie doing the supporting partner thing, encouraging and holding a fine reflector.

Thanks for being strangers, Louise and Jessie.

Rafet Stranger #67

I was in Commercial Street and gave Rafet directions to Primrose Street and then almost as an afterthought asked if I could photograph him for the project. He kindly agreed and I took a few pictures while we talked.

Rafet was visiting London from Cologne, where he has a coffee shop. Like many people in the area that day he was visiting the London coffee festival, picking up ideas, blends, equipment. He'd had a good day and was off to meet his wife and enjoy London some more.

I've found myself going into 'autopilot' mode in recent portrait sessions - adjust camera settings, select background, remove obvious distractions, use reflector if necessary and then just chat to the subject while taking shots, making small setting and shooting position adjustments. Not scientific but every now and again I get a good surprise when the image comes up on the pc screen. I find myself liking this image and Rafet's expression more than I expected to

Nice to talk with you Rafet, If I'm ever in Cologne...

Joanna Stranger #68

Joanna took a break from her cigarette break and posed for some shots for the project. Like many subjects she preferred to smile for the camera, and she had a great smile, but as I often do, I picked the serious face for the stranger portrait.

I've used this South Bank background before and the early evening sun lighting the top right of the image worked again for me.

A few shots and Joanna had to go back to her work (she's a restaurant manager) Thanks, Joanna, I will have a meal at your restaurant one day I hope

Jamal Stranger #69

Jamal makes it 3 strangers so far with facial tattoos. I asked him if at some level he wants to attract some personalities and repel others; Jamal said yes, probably both.

I met Jamal on his way from the Soho tattoo shop where he was getting the final 5% of his body tattooed. Actually, re-tattooed. Jamal had removed, at a cost of 10s of thousands of pounds, a number of tattoos that lost their shape when he dropped weight following a heart attack. He is still recovering and trying to get fit so he can return to his main profession: kick-boxing/MMA. In the daytime he teaches in a primary school. Not your everyday stranger.

Charlotte Stranger #70

Charlotte was sitting on a low wall near the Oxo Tower, reading Nietzsche. Nietzsche! Like stranger #54! If that isn't a sign to ask someone to be part of the project I don't know what is. Luckily, Charlotte agreed to a portrait but warned that she didn't usually like how she looked in photographs. So, no pressure. And then she put everything into helping me make a great photograph. Low evening sun was difficult and we tried a few different angles. This one, Into the sun, seemed to work best.

Charlotte is from France and is studying in London - philosophy, politics and economics. End of year exams are approaching and Charlotte said she had a lot of work to do. Thanks for being a fantastic model and taking time out from your reading, Charlotte, good luck with your studies.

Celia Stranger #71

Celia sometimes models for artists and she gave this expression almost without thinking. She is a photographer herself and we talked long about cameras and photographers and Celia took some pictures of me (a stranger first!). She is from London, north of the river, and we talked about the difference between north and south London.

A perfect stranger, was great to meet and talk with and photograph Celia

Christian Stranger #72

Christian is a christian. I met him while he was shooting promotional material for his church which, he tells me, is an exciting and charismatic place with a lot of young people. Maybe the place for you, he said. His silver hair and ginger beard certainly catches the eye and once I explained the project, Christian was kind enough to give me a few moments from his art direction to allow me to take a few pictures.

Did he look like a christian? What does a christian look like? I guess christians don't have any universal physical identifiers - no hajib, no turban, no skull cap. You have to be ordained to wear a dog collar but otherwise it's up to you. Maybe silver hair and a ginger beard is the way forward...

Andrea Stranger #73

Under my self-set rules, I'm not sure if Andrea qualifies as a stranger - I wasn't able to explain the project and she was in such a hurry that I only managed 3 pictures before she rushed off to help teach a man to ride a bike. I was able to tell her where she could see the picture, though in the excitement of the occasion I would be surprised if she remembers.
The occasion was the critical mass city cycle ( network23.org/criticalmasslondon/ ) and the improving weather had brought out a large number of riders. Andrea was involved in the critical mass movement and was helping a man learn to ride, and also filming. She was much in demand but still paused for me to take some pictures. She then joined the dozens of cyclists sweeping out from under Waterloo bridge to go across the river and through central London, all soundtracked by drum and bass blasting from wheeled sound systems.
Technically, the shot could have done with better crop out of camera and a reflector to lift the shadows. Despite this, Andrea makes the shot with her direct gaze and bottled energy.
To Andrea and all the other riders who said I should put down the camera and get on a bike and come ride, I say: one day, one day.

Elisabeth Stranger #74

Elisabeth is a chef and she cooks street food influenced by her heritage: Mauritius, Sicily and Jamaica. She cooks and sells her food from a beautifully restored vintage Citroen van with a suitably beautiful name, cocolabelle, named after her children.
Unlike most strangers in the project who I ask if I can take their photograph, Elisabeth asked me to take her picture, though I suspect that she was more interested in adding to the promotional pictures on her business website than in the 100 strangers project. Whatever the motivation, it was a delight to meet Elisabeth. She takes a great picture and makes some fantastic fish. www.cocolabelle.co.uk

Alex stranger #76

Alex is another last Friday biker (see Lech, stranger 75) He was waiting underneath Waterloo Bridge for the Reclaim ride to start and was relaxed about having his picture taken for the project. Alex is from Eritrea and now loves in North West London. Keen on cycling to the point of being crazy, Alex hasn't missed a Reclaim ride for months, or even years. He recently had a crash and smashed his teeth; doesn't stop him from smiling, though. (I just asked him for a serious face for this shot)

AbdelRaman Stranger #81

AbdelRaman was very friendly and approachable when I met him in the Raval area of Barcelona. His story, though, was a little mysterious. He worked in Barcelona delivering bread, though he had only been in Spain a few months, didn't know anyone and couldn't speak the language. He had last been in Sweden where he was also alone and without the language. He wanted to save enough money to go to Germany because he heard it was a good place. When I asked where he learned his quite good English, he said he'd been in the US a couple of years ago. A true nomad, AbdelRaman seemed to move on a whim, encouraged by rumours of work or reports of welcoming societies. He registered no surprise when I asked if I could take his picture and then didn't want to see it on the camera screen. Having his picture taken by a stranger in a strange city; probably not the most noteworthy thing that had happened in his recent past.

Benche Stranger #79

It was getting dark when I met Benche and James (another stranger) on the south bank but they had such a cool and relaxed look that I decided to push up the ISOs and go for the shots anyway. I'm pleased that I did. Benche's look and her ease in front of the camera was to be expected as she is a model and was relaxing in London before flying out for a shoot. Benche and James ribbed each other about who was the most successful model and I asked if this was infamous modelling bitchiness, they both said no - good friends having a great time.
this is #79 in my 100 strangers project. Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at the 100 Strangers Flickr Group page

Mao stranger #55

Mao, like chairman Mao, said Mao. But actually a shortened version of Maurice. He preferred Mao to Mau as a shortening and, as it's his name, quite rightly he gets to choose.

Mao is a music producer from Columbia. He was looking for Southwark station when I met him and I was happy to direct him - 'just up the road a little'

Mao's style and look begged to be photographed and he agreed straightaway to being a part of the project.

Although looking serious here, Mao was always smiling. A happy, positive person, was a pleasure to shoot you Mao.